Items That Are Toxic to Your Pets
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Human Food is not Food For Your Pet
Avocado -all parts- The toxic ingredient in avocado is called persin (toxic amount unknown). Symptoms include difficulty breathing, abdominal enlargement, abnormal fluid accumulation in the chest, abdomen, and sac around heart.
Pear seeds, the kernels of plums, peaches and apricots, apple core seeds (contain cyanogenic glycosides resulting in cyanide posioning)
Potato peelings and green looking potatoes
Rhubarb leaves
Moldy/spoiled foods
Alcohol
Yeast dough
Coffee grounds, beans, and tea (caffeine)
Hops (used in home brewing)
Tomato leaves & stems (all the green parts)
Broccoli (in large amounts)
Raisins and grapes
Cigarettes, tobacco, cigars
Xylitol (sweetener often found in sugar-free gum)
Chocolate
Onions
Garlic
Macadamia nuts
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Chocolate Toxicity
Chocolate contains theobromine, a compound that is a cardiac stimulant and a diuretic. After a pet has consumed chocolate, many owners believe that no harm has been done because the symptoms of chocolate poisoning do not surface for several hours, however, death can occur within 24 hours.
Dogs tend to become hyperactive and excited. Vomiting and diarrhea are also common. Theobromine causes the heart to beat irregularly and is the most dangerous effect.
Cocoa powder and cooking chocolate are the most toxic forms. These contain ten times the amount of theobromine as regular milk chocolate. Semi-sweet and dark chocolate are the next most dangerous, with milk chocolate being the least. Please keep in mind that all chocolate is dangerous, although it may not be deadly.
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Onion and Garlic Poisoning
Onions and garlic are harmful to dogs, cats and livestock. They contain the toxic ingredient thiosulphate. Onions are more of a danger to pets.
Pets affected by onion posioning show gastroenteritis with vomiting and diarrhea. They usually show no interest in food and will be dull and weak. Animals also develop hemolytic anemia, where the red blood cells burst while circulating in the in body. This can cause a symptom of difficulty breathing or breathlessness. Pets usually do not begin to show signs for several days.
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Macadamia Nuts
The toxic compound is unknown but the affect of macadamia nuts is to cause locomotory difficulties. Dogs develop a tremor of the skeletal muscles, and weakness or paralysis of the hindquaters. Affected dogs are often unable to rise and are distressed, usually panting. Some affected dogs have swollen limbs and show pain when the limbs are manipulated.
Some dogs have been affected by eating just a few, while others were given many. Although this poisoning seems to be painful, almost all cases fully recover when taken to the veterinarian.
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